Philmont Scout Ranch is Scouting America’s largest National High-Adventure Base, spanning 140,177 acres of rugged Rocky Mountain wilderness in northeastern New Mexico. For centuries, this land has shaped explorers, builders, and dreamers: Ancient Native Americans left petroglyphs on canyon walls, Spanish conquistadors pushed into the Southwest, mountain men like Kit Carson blazed trails, and great ranchers like Lucien Maxwell built along the Santa Fe Trail. Miners, loggers, and cowboys all left their mark on this storied landscape. Now you can too.
For more than 80 years, Philmont has delivered unforgettable adventures to more than one million Scouts and leaders. Every mile of trail carries stories of teamwork, determination, leadership, and resilience.
Philmont’s history includes challenges that require courage and commitment to overcome. Since the 2002 Ponil Complex Fire and, more recently, the devastating 2018 Ute Park Fire, donors like you have been vital in protecting Philmont’s forests and ensuring its future.
Together, we have:
Every Scout at Philmont also completes at least three hours of conservation service during their trek. These thousands of hours each summer translate into trail work, reforestation, erosion control, and habitat restoration. Donors provide the tools, staff leadership, and resources that make these projects possible, multiplying the impact of each Scout’s hands-on efforts. Still, more than 20,000 acres of Ponderosa pine forest remain untreated. The work is far from finished, and your help is needed.
The lessons Scouts learn through wilderness adventures, including resilience, leadership, and service, are only possible when the forest itself thrives. With your help, we can ensure Philmont remains a place where generations continue to grow, explore, and lead.
Join us in preserving Philmont’s iconic landscape for tomorrow’s Scouts. Adopt-an-Acre today!
Registration for 2027 Crew Treks and 2026 Individual Programs Opens on Oct. 1 at 9am MDT